Big is not always better

Andy Murray feels the heat in the course of giving a tennis lesson to big-hitting John Isner © Getty Images

Big is not always better; that statement was comprehensively proved by John Isner who was given a tennis lesson by Andy Murray on Sunday morning.

The talk ahead of the game centred on this giant of a man called Isner; I heard one commentator, who will remain anonymous for fear of embarrassment, claim that he feels the American will win Wimbledon in the future. It would be a poor day for tennis if that were to happen.

‘He’s crashed 81 aces, he has a huge forehand, he devours second serves.’ These were some of the things said about Isner and to an extent they are true, but what people seemed to overlook is that he is not very good. When he’s dominating a point, Isner can cover the court in two long, loping strides but there were times against Murray when he resembled a disorganised camel. Murray’s game-plan was quite magnificent, he reined his first serve in to ensure he got a higher percentage in and worked the American around the court mercilessly.

There is no doubt Murray upped his level from his first three rounds, but he had the capacity to do that, Isner did not. There will be days when his game comes together and he will beat some very good players, but there will also be days when his game operates at a normal level and he will be found wanting. And he was found wanting by Murray.

Murray now faces an entirely different test against Rafael Nadal and that will tell us whether the Brit can win the Australian Open.